Portable derrick



March 2s, 1944. A, FUNK 2,345,253

PORTABLE DERRICK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1940 INVENTOR ATTORN EY March 28, 1944. F. A. FUNK PORTABLE DERRICK l l lNvENToR fa/2k /7 /m/r.

` 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PW. ATTORNEY Filed Dec. 28, 1940 March 28, 1944. F. A, FUNK 2,345,253

PORTABLE DERRICK Filed Deo. 28, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .saga

nml

INVENTOR ATTOR N EY Patented Mar. 28, 1944 PORTABLE DERRICK Frank A.

Funk, Tulsa. kla., assignor to American Steel Derrick Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma.

Application December 28, 1940, Serial No. 372,057

(Cl. 18S-15) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to drilling derricks, par ticularly those of portable type, and has for its principal object to provide a derrick of this character composed of standard sections of a size to be conveniently transported to a drilling site and readily connected to form a derrick adapted for dimensional adjustments to suit the space required in accommodating the type of drilling equipment used or any operating conditions encountered at the drilling site such as variation in height, size of base, leg spread, position of the pipe racking platform, and the like.

Other Yobjects of the invention are to provide a portable derrick having a high strength low weight ratio; to provide a portable derrick that is substantially self-supporting when raised from an assembled reclining position to perpendicular position; to provide a portable derrick with an open front extending from the base up to the pipe racking platform; to provide a portable derrick wherein the legs are of truss-like structure and capable of supporting the derrick loads without the use of cross-bracing, struts, and the like, which may ordinarily interfere with raising and lowering the drilling string.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a portable derrick tower adapted for complete assembly on the ground including Stringing up of the drilling lines as they are to be used in the drilling operations with the travelling block lying on the derrick platform and with the dead line in anchored position; to provide a derrick tower adapted for erection by a temporary gin-pole mounted on the derrick base and which is connected with the drilling line the draw-works or other suitable hoist in the raising operation; and to provide the tower with brace legs to support and plumb the derrick tower when in erect position.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable derrick embodying the features of the present invention and showing the temporary gin-pole in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the derrick also showing the temporary gin-pole in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the assembled derrick in reclining position and the method of raising the derrick utilizing the drilling line and draw-works.

to utilize power of I Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the base of the derrick with a part of the platform broken away to illustrate the under structure thereof and showing the temporary gin-pole in erect position on the base.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connection between one of the temporary ginpole legs and the cross-bar, the parts being shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lower end of one of the gin-pole legs and bracket for connecting it with the base of the derrick, the parts also being shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the derrick on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7, particularly illustrating the pipe racking platform, parts thereof being shown in section.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the pipe racking platform carrying arms and temporary supporting leg for retaining the derrick in position to facilitate the insertion of the hinge or anchoring pins.

Fig. 10 is a detail elevational view of the upper end of the derrick tower, particularly illustrating the pivotal connection of the derrick legs and spacing members which carry the crown pulleys.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational View of the upper end of the derrick tower, part of which is shown in section to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section of the lower end of one of the brace legs, particularly illustrating the Jack-screw mechanism for plumbing the derrick.

Fig. 13 is a cross-section through the adjusting wheel on the line |-3| 3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a. similar section showing connection of the upper end of one of the brace legs with the derrick.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a drilling derrick constructed in accordance with the present invention and which includes a base 2, a mast or tower 3, and a temporary erecting gin-pole 4.

The base 2 includes a pair of laterally spaced sections 5 and 6, each of which includes longitudinalupper rails 1 and 8 connected by crossrails 9 arranged at spaced intervals to form support for the derrick floor I0 thereon. The -base sections also include 4longitudinal lower rails Il connected together by cross-rails I2 and with the upper rails 1 and 8 by diagonal struts I3 to form substantially truss-like structures at the sides thereof. The sides of the base are also interconnected by lateral struts I4. The sections thus described are of width and length to be hauled on a conventional motor truck when the base is disassembled.

The base sections are spaced apart to provide a platform of the desired width by means of spacing rails I5 interconnecting the upper and lower rails of the adjacent sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. 'I'he spacing rails Il are removably secured to the side rails and may be provided in sets of desired lengths so that a set may be furnished with the derrick which gives the desired spacing of the base sections. 'I'he base sections may also be connected by suitable crossbracing I8 to enhance the rigidity thereof. Mounted on the outer side rails 8 of the respec' tivel base sections are hinge brackets I1 having ears I8 provided with openings I9 therethrough i for receiving hinge pins 28, later described. 'Ihe brackets I1 have footing flanges 2I which are welded or otherwise attached to the rails 8 so that they are securely anchored thereon.

Spaced on the rails 8, on the respective sides of the hinge brackets I1, are brace leg anchoring brackets 22 and 23, each having spaced ears 24 provided with openings 25 for passing pins 28. Also mounted on the side rails 8 and spaced rearwardly from the anchor brackets 22 are similar gin-pole anchoring brackets 21 provided with apertured ears to pass pins 28. Mounted on the inner rails 1, forwardly of the brackets I1, are similar gin-pole anchoring brackets 28.

'I'he mast or tower 3 includes a pair of laterally spaced leg assemblies 38 and 3I, each of which is composed or interconnected sections 32 adapted to be secured together to provide a derrick of the required height. Each section is of open, box-like construction, and includes corner posts 33, 34, 35 and 38, the corner posts 35 being connected with the corner posts 38, and the corner posts 33 with the corner posts 34 by sway braces 31 and girths 38. While the corner posts 33 are connected with the corner posts 35, and the corner posts 34 with the corner posts 36 by girths 39 and struts 48, the lower sections of the legs have their corner posts diverging upwardly and the upper sections have their comer posts converging toward the top of the derrick to provide derrick legs of substantially truss-like shape. The corner posts of the lower endmost sections are connected by gusset plates 4I and 42 and carry ears 43 spaced apart to accommodate the ears I8 of the hinge brackets I1 therebetween, the ears 43 having openings therethrough to receive the hinge Pins 20, previously referred to.

'I'he upper endmost sections of the legs have similar gusset plates 44 and 4l connected with the corner posts thereoi',l and which have upper extensions 48 carrying spacing sleeves 41 xed therebetween to cooperate wtihbolts 48 in forming'hinge connections for the legs, the bolts 48 extending through the ends of channel members 43 and 58 interconnecting the legs, the channel members being preferably arranged with the webs in facing relation and the flanges extending outwardly as shown in Fig. l1.

Carried by the channels 49 and 58, are vertical channels 5I and 52 providing a support for a crown pulley or pulleys 53 which are rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 carried by the webs of the channels 5I and 52. The channels 5I and 52 have lower ends extending below the cross channels 49 and 50 to connect with lower cross channels 55 and 56. The channels 55 and 56 are connected with the lower portions of the gusset plates of the respective legs by tie bolts l1 and I8 extending therethrough. The cross channels Il.

and I8 may be vprovided of a length to maintain the desired spread at the lower end of the legs. If desired, the centermost sections of the -legs may have the corner posts thereof extending in parallel relation as indicated in Fig. 2.

'To promote portability and ready transport of the derrick from one site to another, the leg sections are preferably in lengths of approximately thirty feet, and the thirty foot lengths are connected by suitable fastening devices which are removablewhen the derrick is to be dismantled. A required number of intermediate sections may be interposed in the derrick structure to give a derrick of the desired height.

Connected with the pairs of innermostfcorner posts of the derrick legs are preferably tubular arms 58 and 68 having forwardly projecting ends carrying a cross-bar 6I having pipe racking fingers 62 projecting in the direction of the space formed between the derrick legs, as best shown in Fig. '1. The tubular arms also carry substantially L-shaped platforms 63 for support of the workmen when connecting and disconnecting the stands of drill. pipe with the elevator as in conventional drilling operations. Slidable in the projecting end of the tubular arms 59 and 68 are extensions 64 and 65 having spaced ears 66 on the ends thereof carrying flanged footing members 61 for a purpose later described. 'I'he extensi s are adjustably fixed within the tubular arms 9 and 60 by means of pins 68 extending through the arms and through one of a series of openings 69 in the extensions.

The legs of the derrick may be interconnected at a point below the racking platform by crossmembers 18 and 1I which in' turn are connected by braces 12 to close the open side of the derrick opposite the racking fingers to prevent the stands of drill pipe from falling outwardly.

Fixed on the derrick legs, at the front and rear sides thereof, are channels 13, each carrying spaced\brackets 14 and 15, as shown in Figs. i and 2, to hingedly connect with the upper ends of brace legs 16 and 11. The brace legs are preferably formed of heavy tubing and have opposite diametrical sides of the ends cut away, as indicated at 80, to mount spaced ears 8I and 82 which are welded therein and have openings 83 for passing bolts or pins 84 which extend through sleeves 85. Afllxed to the sleeves 85 are cross-sleeves 86 integrally connected therewith for passing bolts 81 which extend through the openings in the brackets 14 and 15, just described. 'I'he brace legs are thus swivelly connected with the legs of the derrick so that they may extend at the desired angle therefrom as governed by spacing ofthe derrick legs and spacing of the brackets 22 and 23. The lower ends of the brace legs are closed by plates 88 which are welded thereto and provided with openings 89 swivelly retaining the hub 98 of an adjusting nut 9|. 'I'he hub is preferably shouldered, as at 82, to engage the outer face of the plates 88 and 93 which are sleeved thereover tocarries washers engage the opposite faces of the plates for rotatably retaining the hubs in the plates, the washers being welded to the hubs as shown in Fig. 12. The hubs of the nuts are provided with handwhels 94 whereby they may be rotated to adjust position of the threaded shafts 95 within the legs. 'I'he shafts 95 have ears 96 on their lower ends to engage between the ears of the brackets 22 and 23 and for passing the pins or bolts 25. The hand-wheels Il provide. a fastv method of rotating the nuts., however. the final adjustment is made by means of a bar (not shown), which is inserted through openlngs'll in the hubs.

I'he temporary gin-pole l includes pairs of front and rear'legs 0l and 0I carryinla crossbar Ill. 'I'he lower ends of the legis are provided,with spaced rears having swivel nection with the ears of the bracketsl and 20, previously referred to, in the same manner as the connections of the upper ends of the brace legs with the tower legs. The upper ends ofthe jack-post legs are pivotally connected with ears |02 extending from sleeves |03 mounted on the .bar |00. The sleeves are retained in .position on the bar |00 by spacing collars |04. '-Th'e bat |00 is of sufficient length so that it extends across the width of the derrick to provide an abutment for the derrick legs when the tower is .inwertical position.

Mounted on the platform is a conventional draw-works |05 which includes a winding drum |00, the winding drum being rotatable by suit-A able connection with prime movers |01, also mounted on the platform.. The drilling line |00 is reeled on the winding drum and is reeved in the grooves of the crown pulley 50 and over the pulley of a travelling block |00 with the dead end ||0 of the line anchored to a suitable eye I|| provided in the derrick base. 'I'he travelling block includes the conventional hooi:` i I! adapted for connection with a sling Il) which )sconnected with the cross-bar |00 by means of a stirrup or clevis ||4 pivoted thereon at apoint between the innermost sleeves |03.

While the raising and lowering operations are shown as being accomplished bya draw-works, it is obvious that this may be accomplished with any hoisting mechanism having a winding drum and suitable braking equipment. In certain districts where the drilling is accomplished with cable tools, or where the drilling operation is completed with cable tools, the raising or lowering operations may be carried on with the available equipment such as the bull wheel unit operated by the bull ropes or any units having built in drums for handling the drilling orl casing lines. It is also possible to use truck mounted winches4 of the heavy type. used in various Oilfield operations, in which case the winding drums would not be mounted on the base of the derrick but at the side thereof. l

It is also obvious that other types of bases may be used, such as single I-beams, concrete foundations, or the like.

Some draw-works have an enclosed froritfaiiiid in this case it is desirable to mount a. sheave lil rotatably mounted on the cross-@bar |06 between the arms of the clevis I4 in which case the live line |00 will be, extended over this pulley so Y that the line will clear the enclosed front .of the draw-works when the derrick is in rl1nin position.

When the derrick is to be erected for th'e'ilrst.

time after having been hauled to the drilling site in sections, as shipped from the factory, thevarious operations necessary for erection can proceed in the following order, although to save time several operations can be accomplished at the same time. base 2 of the derrick are assembledat the..drill ing location on timbers or plank mats which have been previously placed and carefullylevelled up. The base sections are theninterconnected-wasp- The sections 5 and 0 yforming theV -53 and cross-bar 6|.

plying spacing rails l5 and cross-bracing l0 of a length to give the desired width of derrick platform. The derrick floor il is then laid over the interconnected base sections, after which the ginpole l is. shown in Fig. 4 by means of a gin-pole truclt- (not shown). The lower ends of the gin-pole legs 00 and I are then 'attached to the anchoring brackets 21 and 20. The draw-works |05 and engines |01 are then set and placed in operating the erection gin-pole can this equipment. The

condition. If desired, be used to assist in setting derrick sectionsfi! are then connected on the ground to form the leg assemblies 30 and 3|, the lower sections of the two legs being positioned over the base 2 with the ears substantially in alignment with the brackets |1. The upper cross-channels I9 and 50 are connected to the legs by -theubolts 4l. The lower channels are then connected in their proper position by applying the bolts 51 and 50 to maintain spread of the derrick legs. The four brace legs are attached at their top .connections to the main legs of the derrick. The bottomends of the two braces on the under side of the tower are placed on the ground at the sides of the derrick platform. or they may be positioned forwardly to underlie the upper 'portion of the derrick, in which position they 4will be out of the way of the raising operations. These brace legs should have the threaded 4shafts $5 screwed up until no thread is exposed. -The two leg braceslying on the top of the der` rick legs should havethe screws extended until about one foot of thread is exposed. I'hev top of the Iderrick Yis then raised by the gin-pole truck toa height sumcient for allowing the lower ends of the legs to come down into position on the derrick platform to permit insertion of thc hinge pins 20. The supporting arms 59 and 60 are then.applied to carry the racking platforms extensions H and 65 areremoved sothat the feet 01 thereon engage a cross-timber H5 which has been placed in position on the ground. The pins are. then reinserted in the proper openings 05 of the extensions. The weight of the tower may then be temporarily supported to release the gin-pole truck for other duties. The drilling lines |00 are now strung up exactly as they are used in drilling, with the travelling block |09 lying on the platform of the derrick near the front thereof with the dead line |l0 anchored in the eye I provided for it. The sling ||3 is then attached .to Vthehar .|00 of the gin-pole 4 and a loop in thefree end thereof is engaged with a hook H2 of the travelling block. The engines |01 are then startedto effect actuation of the winding drum |06 `for windingl up the drilling line so that the tackle raises the upper end of the tower and the 4travelling block |09 moves in an arc about the cross-member |00 of the gin-pole. When the lowerlends of the forward brace legs 11 reach the'point of the anchoring brackets 25, the pins .or :bolts 'may be inserted therethrough. The

.hand-wheels may then be rotated to extend the .effective length of the brace legs 11 as the der.

assembled and raised to the position` The pins 68 holding the thereby provide a safety factor prior to connecto the top of the tower before the raising operation is started. After the tower has been plumbed, the temporary gin-pole 4 is removed by the sling I3 which is `already attached and is laid down without dismantling, in some convenient place adjacent the derrick whereby it may be picked up and set in place for the ulowering of the derrick when the well is completed. 'I'he lowering and dismantling operations are carried on in reverse order to the operations described in the erection of the derrick, the lowering control beingcarried on by application of the brakes of the draw-works. 1

For transportation where load dimensions are limited, the'derrick and base can be knocked down into their respective sections which are of a size within the\usual road limits, but where the hauling of long loads is permitted, the derrick assembly, consisting of the two legs, the crown block, travelling block, and drilling lines reeved for drilling. can be moved as a unit or partially knocked down. 'Ihe cross members 10. 'Il and 'Il and the pipe racking platforms, including the lower channels I5 and 56, are disconnected and the legs are pivoted on the crown channels Il and Il so that the lower ends are brought together to form a unit of relatively narrow width and which may be readily transported. For skidding the derrick to adjacent locations, it is necessary to remove only the two cross-members I! connecting the base sections near the front thereof in order to cleary the well head.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a portable derrick which is oi' strong, light weight construction, and which is constructed so that it may be readily dismantled and transported in sections from one location to another. The height, width of base and capacity of the racking platform may be changed while at the same time obtaining economic beneilts of stand.. ardization by reason oi' the standardid sections from which the derricks are made up, the standard sections being .connected with a few inexpensive special parts such as the connecting channels and cross-members, previously described. The derrick therefore is adapted to dimensional changes tosuit the space required by any type of drifiing equipment, or to meet any special conditions encountered. Since the legs are pivoted at a point adjacent the crown block, they can be spread to any desired base widthl the base being enlarged by increasing the length oi' the spacers between the base sections. It is also obvious that the space provided for the drill pipe at the racking platform, being outside of the derrick and not limited by the space between the legs as in conventional types of towers, can accommodate varying. numbers of drill pipe stands. The entire front of the derrick is open up to the racking platform. thus providing an opening that permits of pulling in of long lengths of drill pipe. Ihe adjustable brace legs also enable the tower assauts tobeshiftedtochangethepositionofthecrown pulley relatively to the drill hole-when thelwell is to be drilled in with cable tools.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

l. A drilling derrick including, a base having a winding drum supported thereon. a derrick tower comprising laterally arranged interconnected sections adapted for connection when in reclining position, a crown pulley carried at the top of the derrick tower. means connecting lower ends of said sections with the base for pivotal movement from said reclining position to an erect position, a travelling block, a drilling line reeved over the crown pulley and travelling block and having one end anchored relatively to the base and the other end connected with the winding drum,.a gin-pole supported on the base, a sling connecting the travelling block with the ginfpole, and means for rotating the winding drum to raise said derrick tower from reclining to an erect po. sition on said base.

2. A drilling derrick including, a base having a winding drum supported thereon, a derrick tower capable of self-support when in reclining position and having a lower end adapted for support by said base, a crown pulley carried at the top of the derrick tower, means connecting the lower end of the derrick tower with the base for pivotal movement from said reclining position to an erect position on said base, a travelling block, a drilling line reeved over the crown pulley and travelling block and having one end anchored relatively to the base and the other end connected with the winding drum, a gin-pole supported on the base, means connecting the travelling block with the gin-pole, means for rotating the winding drum to raise said derrick tower from reclining to an erect position on said base, and means for retaining the derrick tower in erect position.

3. A drilling derrick including, a base having a winding drum supported thereon, a derrick tower capable of self-support when in reclining position and having a lower portion adapted for support by said base, a crown pulley carried at the top of the derrick tower, means connecting the lower end of the derrick tower with the base for pivotal movement from said reclining position to on erect Position on said base, a travelling block, a drilling line reeved over the crown pulley and traveling block and having one end anchored relatively to the base and the other end connected with the winding drum, la gin-pole supported on the base, a sling connecting the travelling block with the gin-pole, means for rotating the wind ing drum to raise said derrick tower from reclining to an erect position on said base, brace legs pivotally connected with opposite sides of the derrick tower, and jack-screws connecting the brace legs with the base to plumb said derrick tower when in erect position.

4. In a drilling derrick, a pair of legs, a transverse member pivotally connecting the upper ends of said legs whereby the legs are adapted to be moved from a transport position in substantially parallel relation with each other to an angular relationship, a second transverse member spaced from the rst member, means connecting the second member with said legs to retain said legs i angular relation, vertical members connecting t e transverse members, and a crown pulley supported by the vertical members.

5. A drilling derrick including, a base, a pair of leg members each including a self-supporting truss-like structure formed of a plurality of in'- terconnected sections, means connecting the` upper ends of the leg members, a crown pulley supported by said connecting means, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of the leg members with the base, means for raising said derrick leg members to an erect position on the base including a giri-pole supported on the base, a winding drum, a travelling block, a drilling line connecting the crown pulley with the travelling block and having one end anchored to the base and the other end reeled on said winding drum, means connecting the travelling block with the gin-pole, and means for rotating the winding drum.

6. A drilling derrick including, a base, a pair of legs each including a self-supporting trusslike member, means connecting the upper ends of the leg members in side by side relation, temporary supporting means extending from said legs to support said legs in a substantially horizontal position, a crown pulley supported by said connecting means, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of the legs with the base, and means for raising said derrick legs to an erect position on the base, including a gin-pole supported on the base, a winding drum, a travelling block, a drilling line connecting the crown pulley with the travelling block and having one end anchored to the base and the other end reeled on said winding drum, a sling connecting the travelling block with the gin-pole, and means for rotating the winding drum.

7. A drilling derrick including, a base, a pair of self-supporting legs, hinge means connecting the upper ends of the legs and on which the legs are movable from a transport position in substantially parallel relation with each other to an angular relationship, a crown pulley carried by said legs and located adjacent said hinge means, coaxial means hingedly connecting the lower ends of said legs with the base on an axis transversely of the axis of the hinge means and on which the legs are pivoted from a reclining position to a substantially erect position on the base, a Winding drum, a traveling block, a line reaved over the crown pulley and traveling block and having one end anchored relatively to the base and the other end connected with the winding drum, means connecting the traveling block with the base at a substantial distance above said coaxial hinge means, means for operating the winding drum to move the derrick on said coaxial means from said reclining position to an erect position on the base,

and brace means connecting the legs with the base on the respective sides of said coaxial means to suport the legs in erect position.

8. A drilling derrick including, a base, a pair of self-supporting legs, hinge means connecting the upper ends of the legs and on which the legs are movable from a transport position in substantially parallel relation with each other to an angular relationship, a crown pulley carried by said legs and located adjacent said hinge means, coaxial means hingedly connecting the lower ends of said legs with the base on an axis transversely of the axis of the hinge means and on which the legs are pivoted from a reclining position to a substantially erect position on the base, a winding drum, a traveling block, a line reaved over the crown pulley and traveling block and having one end anchored relatively to the base and the other end connected with the winding drum, means connecting the traveling block with the base at a substantial distance above said coaxial hinge A means, means for operating the winding drum to to support the legs in erect position,

move the derrick on said coaxial means vfrom said reclining position to an erect position on the base, brace means connecting the legs with the base on the respective sides of said coaxial means and adjustable means connecting the brace means with the base to selectively position the legs relatively to A the base.

9. A drilling derrick including, a-base, a pair of legs, hinge means connecting the upper ends of the legs and on which the legs are movable from a transportA position in substantially parallel relation with each other to an angular relationship, coaxial means hingedly connecting the lower. ends of said legs with the base on an axis transversely of the axes of said hinging means and on which the legs are pivoted from a reclining position to a substantially erect position on the base, a gin pole mounted on the base, a crown pulley carried by the legs adjacent said hinge means, a traveling block, a drilling cable reaved over the crown pulley and traveling block and having one end connected with the winding drum and the other end fixed relatively to the base, a sling connecting the traveling bloclx with the gin pole, means for rotating the winding drum to raise the legs to an erect position on the base, and means supporting the legs in said erect position relatively to the 

